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Police Gun Down Notorious Armed Robbery Suspect In Ondo State

A mobile police officer who confirmed the news to SaharaReporters said some police officers from the Owo police station killed the wanted gangster in a surprise operation carried out in commando-style.

The police in Ondo State have killed a notorious armed robbery suspect simply known as Gani. Some residents of  Owo town in Owo local government area of the state said Gani had been terrorizing them for months. 

The late Gani, who was also known as "Elese," was shot dead Thursday afternoon at one of his hideouts named "Jugbere Camp". The hideout was near a farm settlement and close to a forest reserve.

A mobile police officer who confirmed the news to SaharaReporters said some police officers from the Owo police station killed the wanted gangster in a surprise operation carried out in commando-style.

He disclosed the officers who shot Gani were mostly detectives from the anti-robbery squad in the "A" Divisional Police Station in the Owo area of the state.

A resident in the area, Segun Alake, told SaharaReporters that a group of local vigilantes helped detectives in the community to chase after the notorious hoodlum before he was killed in an exchange of gunfire.

The source disclosed that Gani was also suspected of being a hitman for a well known cult group and had been on the police watchlist for several murder cases and various violent crimes. 

"Gani and his group of fleeing members, who were mostly cultists, had been terrorizing the peace of the local communities in Owo," said Mr. Alake.

Another resident, Adebola Adebimbe, also told SaharaReporters that there was wild jubilation in Owo town shortly after news spread about that the alleged ferocious gangster had been killed. 

Ms. Adebimbe, who owns a business on Ijebu Road in Owo, said the late Gani once sent his members to burglarize her cosmetic shop in November, 2016. She alleged that the gang stole goods worth hundreds of thousands of naira.

"We (residents) have visited the police station to have a glimpse of the dead body of the notorious cult member," she said.

Also police spokesman, Femi Joseph, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, confirmed the gangster's death. 

Mr. Joseph said the feared gang leader was gunned down by the police following a tip off from members of the local community.

"The notorious armed robber was well known as Gani Elese by many residents of Owo and he was killed this afternoon by our officers," said the officer. He added, "During the operation, which lasted for several hours, our officers engaged the services of some local vigilantes to track down the notorious gangster.

"He was shot dead while he and other members of his gang were trying to escape from the police." The police spokesman disclosed that some other members of the gang ran away with bullet wounds.

"The police have asked residents in the local community to furnish officers with useful information regarding the fleeing members," the police spokesman told SaharaReporters.

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